36C24418Q0538-001.docx

VA PITTSBURGH SAFE WATER TESTING SERVICES

STATEMENT OF WORK

Purpose:

The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) is seeking a base, plus four option year contract for Potable Water Testing Services. The Contractor will provide a fixed quantity of scheduled tests, but will be required to perform an estimated number of retests, which will be covered under purchase agreements separate from this contract. The conditions which will require repeat testing are described in this statement of work. The Contractor will perform all of the requirements described below, and will maintain a direct relationship with VAPHS throughout the entire contract period of performance.

The Contractor will provide all manpower, tools, equipment, and management for the analysis, recording, and reporting of potable water samples to support Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) monitoring compliance for both VAPHS University Drive and Heinz campus facilities as described in this statement of work.

The contractor must currently hold and shall maintain the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s accreditation standards outlined in this statement of work for the duration of the contract. Any loss of vendor accreditation that results in an interruption of water testing services will result in loss of the contract.

The contract will have a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) assigned to coordinate all VA functions. VA Pittsburgh Public Water Supply (VAPWS) certified water treatment operators shall collect all compliance monitoring samples per Title 25, PA Code, Chapter 109, para 304(c)(1).

Task 1: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Compliance Testing:

Information in italics detailed below is taken directly from the Pennsylvania regulation (Title 25, PA Code, Chapter 109) governing implementation and enforcement of the SDWA as authorized in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) primacy regulations detailed in 40 CFR Part 142, Subpart B, (1976, as amended in 1986).

1) The Contractor shall meet the requirements of Title 25, PA Code, Chapter 109 subparagraphs and sections as follows in order to provide analyses to support VAPWS compliance with the SDWA:

a) 109.304(a) and (c)(1):

i) The laboratory shall be accredited;

“SDWA compliance monitoring samples shall be analyzed by a laboratory accredited by the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s (PADEP) Bureau of Labs.”

ii) Chlorine and pH measurements shall be accomplished by VAPWS certified operators and reported on the accredited lab’s chain of custody form during sampling for inclusion in the Drinking Water Electronic Reporting System (DWELR) report furnished by the laboratory.

b) 109.701(a)(1)(ii-iv):

i) VAPWS shall receive all of the following information directly from the accredited laboratory to provide analytical results for reporting to PADEP on the PWS monthly reports:

(1) Name, address, and identification number of the accredited laboratory performing the analysis.

(2) The results of all analytical methods, including negative results.

(3) Contaminants.

(4) Analytical methods used.

(5) The date(s) of sample(s).

(6) The date(s) of analysis.

(7) The sample locations.

c) 109.701(i)(2):

i) VAPWS water treatment personnel shall directly transmit information to the accredited lab to comply with the requirement specified below:

“Each water supplier shall be responsible for providing accurate monitoring and sample information to the accredited laboratory that is responsible for reporting data to the Department under § 109.810 (relating to environmental laboratory accreditation). Monitoring and sample information must include, but is not limited to, the monitoring frequency, monitoring period, sample location, and sample type.”

d) 109.801:

i) The Laboratory shall meet the following specifications:

“A laboratory shall be accredited under Chapter 252 (relating to laboratory accreditation) to perform analyses acceptable to the Department for the purposes of ascertaining drinking water quality and demonstrating compliance with monitoring requirements established in Subchapters C, K, L and M.”

e) 109.810:

i) The accredited laboratory performing the analysis shall be in direct contact with VAPWS personnel any time an MCL exceedance or potential violation occurs:

“A laboratory accredited under Chapter 252 shall, whenever the results of test measurements or analyses performed by the laboratory under this chapter indicate an MCL, MRDL or a treatment technique performance requirement under § 109.202 (relating to State MCLs, MRDLs and treatment technique requirements) is exceeded, or an action level under § 109.1102(a) (relating to lead and copper) is exceeded, or a sample result requires the collection of check or confirmation samples under § 109.301 (relating to general monitoring requirements), or a sample collected under Subchapter M (relating to additional requirements for groundwater sources) is E. coli-positive:

(1) Notify the public water supplier by telephone within 1 hour of the laboratory’s determination. If the supplier cannot be reached within that time, notify the Department by telephone within 2 hours of the determination. If it is necessary for the laboratory to contact the Department after the Department’s routine business hours, the laboratory shall contact the appropriate Department regional office’s after-hours emergency response telephone number and provide information regarding the occurrence, the name of a contact person and the telephone number where that individual may be reached in the event further information is needed. If the Department’s appropriate emergency number cannot be reached, the laboratory shall notify the appropriate Department regional office by telephone within 1 hour of the beginning of the next business day.”

2) The laboratory shall provide all items necessary for proper collection and transport of samples, to include, but not limited to, all collection bottles, labels, chain of custody forms, and shipping containers to VA Pittsburgh PWS personnel.

3) The laboratory shall test the following standard analytes (type, number, and frequency) per SDWA analysis protocols:

Year

a) VA PWS personnel shall provide the laboratory a minimum of 72 hours’ notice for testing analytes indicated in the above table to ensure analyses and reporting meet regulatory deadlines and that courier service can be provided.

4) Additionally, VAPWS shall require 15 repeat testing samples for Total Coliform/E. coli if the analyses detailed in item (3) results in a “Present” indication. *

· This repeat testing shall involve, at a minimum, three additional tests for each “Present” result.

· Repeat testing shall be required within 24 hours except during weekends or holidays where the laboratory cannot be reasonably expected to be able to perform the analyses per the required protocols; in that case the additional sample collection by PWS personnel and sample pick up by the Contractor shall take place within 72 hours.

*All retest requests shall be initiated by VAPHS and will be paid for under separate purchase agreements.

5) The following non-standard analytes shall also be sampled:

Year

a) VAPWS personnel shall provide Contractor minimum of 72 hours’ notice to the Contractor for testing indicated in the above table to ensure analyses and reporting meet regulatory deadlines and that courier service can be provided.

Task 2: Transportation of SDWA samples:

1) All samples collected by VAPWS certified operators shall have a reliable, timely, and convenient method for transport of the samples from VA Pittsburgh property to the accredited laboratory, provided by the laboratory. This shall include proper transfer of the chain of custody and all samples.

VHA Directive 1192 requires all health care personnel (HCP) to participate in the seasonal influenza prevention program and outlines the key implementation steps. Health care personnel is defined in VHA Directive 1192 as all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, paid and unpaid, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, students, researchers, volunteers, and trainees who work in VHA locations. HCP covered by the policy are expected to receive annual influenza vaccination. Those HCP unable or unwilling to be vaccinated are required to wear a face mask throughout the influenza season. Masks are available at entrances throughout the medical center.

It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that all contract staff are compliant with the requirements outlined in VHA Directive 1192. The contractor shall maintain the following documentation:

- Documentation of vaccination, e.g., signed record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy, or a copy of medical records documenting the vaccination.

- Completed Health Care Personnel Influenza Vaccination Form (Attachment B of VHA Directive 1192) if unwilling or unable to receive the vaccine.

The contractor is required to submit annual certification to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) that all contract staff performing services at VA facilities are in compliance with VHA Directive 1192.

END OF STATEMENT OF WORK